Physocarpus plant named &#39;SMNPOBLR&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Physocarpus  cultivar named ‘SMNPOBLR’ is disclosed, characterized by a good mildew resistance, bright red stems, white flowers that age to bright red seed capsules, and very strong red/orange spring leaf flush that turn to dark maroon for the summer. The new variety is a  Physocarpus , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Physocarpus opulifolius.

Variety denomination: ‘SMNPOBLR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Physocarpus cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Timothy D. Wood, in Grand Haven, Minn. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Physocarpus varieties with unique foliage and powdery mildew resistance. The open pollination resulting in this new variety was made during Summer of 2010.

The new Physocarpus ‘SMNPOBLR’ resulted from an open pollination with Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Center Glow’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,894 as the seed parent. The pollen parent is unknown. The new variety was identified as a potentially interesting selection in Summer 2013, at a nursery in Grand Haven, Minn.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘SMNPOBLR’ by softwood cuttings was first performed during Summer of 2013, at commercial greenhouse in Grand Haven, Minn. Subsequent propagation has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in 5 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SMNPOBLR’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SMNPOBLR’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SMNPOBLR’ as a new and distinct Physocarpus cultivar:

-   -   1. Bright red stems     -   2. New foliage has a very strong red/orange Spring leaf flush,         turning dark maroon during Summer.     -   3. Good mildew resistance.     -   4. White flowers that age to bright red seed capsules

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SMNPOBLR’ are similar to plants of the seed parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘SMNPOBLR’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Foliage of the new variety has a red/orange Spring flush. The         seed parent variety has a Spring flush coloration of lime green         to yellow with orange-maroon.     -   2. The new variety has resistance to powdery mildew, the seed         parent is susceptible to powdery mildew.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SMNPOBLR’ can also be compared to the commercial variety Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Minda’. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however ‘SMNPOBLR’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Spring foliage of red/orange; whereas the ‘Minda’ variety has         a Spring foliage of yellow/orange.     -   2. Mildew resistance; whereas the variety ‘Minda’ has less         resistance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical young plant of ‘SMNPOBLR’.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a typical inflorescence and foliage of ‘SMNPOBLR’.

FIG. 3 illustrates in full color a typical foliage of ‘SMNPOBLR’, including red/orange new growth. Plants were grown outdoors in Grand Haven, Minn., in a garden setting. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 2 years from a young plant. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 1996 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘SMNPOBLR’ plants grown in a polyhouse in Grand Haven, Minn. This occurred during June of 2014. The plants were approximately 2 years old grown in 2 gallon containers. The growing temperature ranged from 18° C. to 27° C. during the day, and 5° to 10° C. at night. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Physocarpus opulifolius ‘SMNPOBLR’. -   Propagation:     -   -   Time to initiate roots.—About 25 days at approximately 24°             C.         -   Root description.—Moderate to dense, fibrous and fleshy,             freely branching. Colored white and brown, not accurately             identified with R.H.S. chart.

    -   Time to produce a young rooted plant.—About 60 days at 24° C. -   Plant:     -   -   Plant type.—Shrub perennial.         -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 2 years old.         -   Growth habit.—Upright and rounded.         -   Pot size of plant described.—2 gallon pot.         -   Height.—Approximately 60 cm to top of foliage.         -   Plant spread.—Approximately 40 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate to fast.         -   Plant vigor.—Good.         -   Branching characteristics.—Free, basal branching when             pinched.         -   Length of primary lateral branches.—Approximately 35 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Quantity of lateral branches.—Minimum average 40.         -   Stem.—Shape: Square Aspect/Angle: 50° to 80° Strength: Good             Stem pubescence: None, glabrous texture. Stem Color: Near             RHS Red-Purple 59B.         -   Internode length.—Average 4.5 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Alternate, single. Average Length:             Approximately 7.0 cm. Average Width: Approximately 6.5 cm.             Shape of blade: Rhomboid Apex: Acute. Base: Cordate             Attachment: Stalked Margin: Doubly-Serrate. Texture of top             surface: Smooth Texture of bottom surface: Smooth.             Pubescence?: None Color: Young foliage upper side: Near RHS             Greyed-Red 178A Young foliage under side: Near RHS             Greyed-Orange 166A Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS             Greyed-Purple 187A Mature foliage under side: Near RHS             Greyed-Purple 186B to Greyed-Green 194A Venation: Type:             Palmate Venation color upper side: Near RHS Green 187A             Venation color under side: Near RHS Green 194A. Petiole:             Average Length: Approximately 1.75 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 0.15 cm Petiole color upper side: Near RHS             Red-Purple 60A Petiole color lower side: Near RHS Red-Purple             60A Petiole Texture upper side: Smooth, waxy. Petiole             Texture lower side: Smooth, waxy. -   Flower:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—April-May.         -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Terminal corymb.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—About 35.         -   Inflorescence size.—Width: Approximately 3.0 cm. Height:             Approximately 2.75 cm.         -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—Approximately 25 (in a             #3 Container).         -   Quantity of flowers per plant.—Approximately 300 (in a #3             Container).         -   Individual Flowers.—Flower form: cupped/star-like Flower             Aspect: Upright. Size: Diameter: Approximately 0.8 cm             Length: Approximately 1.8 cm Depth: Approximately 1.8 cm             Persistence: Self-cleaning, usually turning into a seed             head.         -   Petal.—Petal arrangement: Whorl Number of petals per flower:             5 Petal appearance: smooth, opaque Petal Shape: Rounded,             obovate. Margin: Smooth, entire. Tip shape: Rounded. Length:             0.5 cm Width: 0.5 cm Texture: Upper: Smooth Lower: Smooth.         -   Petal Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS             Red-Purple 69B Lower surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 62D Fully             opened: Upper surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 69B Lower             surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 62D Fading: Upper surface: Near             RHS Red-Purple 73D Lower surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 73D.         -   Bud.—Shape: Round. Length: Approximately 0.2 cm Diameter:             Approximately 0.2 cm Color: Near RHS Red-Purple 73C.         -   Sepals.—Shape: Widely Triangular Arrangement: Rotate Length:             Approximately 0.2 cm Width: Approximately 0.2 cm Margin:             Entire Base: Truncate Tip: Acute Texture: Smooth Number of             Sepals: 4 Color (Mature): Upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green             149D Under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 149C with Red-Purple             64B tips.         -   Peduncle.—Length: Average 1.0 cm. Diameter: 0.15 cm Color:             Near RHS Yellow-green 147C Orientation: 60° Strength: Good             Texture: Smooth, waxy.         -   Pedicels.—Length: 0.8 to 1.0 cm Diameter: less than 0.1 cm             Angle: 60° to 90° Strength: Good Texture: Smooth Color: Near             RHS Yellow-Green 153C. -   Reproductive Organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 20 Filament length: Approximately 0.4 to             0.5 cm Filament color: Near RHS White 155B.         -   Anthers.—Shape: Elliptic to round Length: 0.5 cm Color: Near             RHS Brown 200A Pollen: moderate Pollen Color: Near RHS             Red-Purple 58A.         -   Pistil.—Number: Average of 4 Length: Approximately 0.3 cm             Style: Length: Approximately 0.3 cm Color: Near RHS White             155B Stigma: Shape: Club-shaped Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green             153D Ovary color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 151D. -   Other Characteristics:     -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Not observed to date.         -   Garden performance.—Good.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Good resistance to powdery mildew.             Neither resistance nor susceptibility to pathogens and pests             common to Physocarpus have been observed.         -   Temperature tolerance.—The new variety tolerates             temperatures between −31° C. to 38° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Physocarpus plant named ‘SMNPOBLR’ as herein illustrated and described. 